Survival Gear Video — How to Make a Feather Stick

One of the most important survival skills is the ability to make a fire in less than ideal weather conditions…even if all of the wood that you find is wet. It doesn’t have to have rained for wood to be damp, even a heavy dew or fog can make the lighting of a fire difficult. That is why it is important to learn how to make a feather stick. What’s a feather stick? It is a length of deadwood that is shaved to produce a head of fine, feathery shavings and thin curls. A dead branch that is still attached to the tree is the ideal source of wood to make one, but any piece of deadwood that hasn’t begun to rot will do. What you want to do is get to the heartwood where the wood is dry. The kind of wood you use is important. You want a soft wood like pine rather than a hardwood like oak. Also, a good bushcraft knife such as a Mora is ideal for making feather sticks, but you can make them with any sharp blade; even an axe. Anyway, here is a good video that details how to make a feather stick. Enjoy!